Rituals of Maha Shivratri
Rituals of Maha Shivratri
From the very early morning, Shiva temples are flocked by devotees,
young and old, who come to perform the traditional Shivalinga worship
(puja) and hence hope for favours from the god. Devotees bathe at
sunrise, preferably in the Ganga, or any other holy water source (like
the Shiva Sagartank at Khajurao). This is a purificatory rite, an
important part of all Hindu festivals. Wearing a clean piece of clothing
after the holy bath, worshippers carry pots of water to the temple to
bathe the Shivalinga. They offer prayers to the sun, Vishnu and
Shiva.Women pray for the well-being of their husbands and sons. An
unmarried woman prays for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be
the ideal husband. The temple reverberates with the sound of bells and
shouts of "Shankerji ki Jai” meaning 'Hail Shiva'. Devotees
circumambulate the linga, three or seven times, and then pour water over
it. Some also pour milk.
According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivaratri worship must incorporate six items:
- Bathing the Shiv Linga with water, milk and honey, and Wood apple or bel leaves added to it, representing purification of the soul;
- The vermilion paste applied on the Shiv Linga after bathing it, representing virtue;
- Offering of fruits, which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires;
- Burning incense, yielding wealth;
- The lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge;
- And betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures.
Tripundra
refers to the three horizontal stripes of holy ash applied to the
forehead by worshippers of Lord Shiva. These stripes symbolise spiritual
knowledge, purity and penance (spiritual practice of Yoga), so also they represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva.
Wearing a rosary made from the rudraksha
seed of the rudraksha tree (said to have sprung from the tears of Lord
Shiva) when worshipping Lord Shiva is ideal. A rudraksha seed is a
mahogany-like color, sometimes black, and sometimes may have traces of
sacred sandalwood powder, turmeric, kumkum, or holy ash if the rosary was used in worship ceremonies or anointed.
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